The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-12


tinental Europe were before it. lie is
pronounced prodigy. lie has as,oundcd
the musicians and composers, and con-
founded the critics, who cannot over
come their anazcmcnt ut his tech
meal skill his musical intelligence, his
memory. his instant resource as an impro-
visa,ors, and his soul-ielt sympathy with
the composers he plays. II is claimed by
some Of his admirers that he is u greater
genius than Mozart, who hundred wears
ago was the theme Of a wondering and al.
miring world. When only two. years old
Mozart gave evidence OF his marvellous
musical organization. aud at the time
searched for thirds on his sisters harpsi-
chord; a year later ho composed
songs which his father wrote down.
4; five he composed freely, at six was
celebrity, aud at eight played before the
English court. His powcB OF memory
were among his most wonderful faculties,
and he could improyisc ON any theme.
After hearing the Misercre Of Allegri in the
Sis,ino chapel, he wrote il from memory.
At twelve years OF age lac conducted an
orchestra, and dying at thirty five LEFT a
library OF master pieces Of sacred, op.
cratic, instrumental and vocal works.
The boy Holman, a pianist equal
TO any other now living is, OF course,
superior 10 Mozart, and he equals that
great composer not only in the compost
tons he has already given the world, but
in his comprehensive grasp Of the compo-
sitons OF Beethoven, and Of Chopin, Schu-
mann, List and Rubcnstcin, whom Mo-
Fart, Of course, never heard. Mr.. Fink,
the accomplished critic Of The
Non York Ercning Post. suggests
Holman as another Chopin, and
Frcund. no less accomplished critic, nc.
counts for bis gifts upon the theory that
"somc great soul, some mind that has
worked in the past speaks TO us through
the body Of Josef Holman, and when
that body shall have attained its physical
maturity this grca, musical soul will find
means Of expression by which Il can give
US m adequate sense OF its power aud It's
Immortality" RubcnsIcin declares him
"ihc marvel oi the age" aud the French
composer aud pianist, Sain,-saens, says
the child has nothing moc 10 learn. At
his list New York concert he played
Beethoven concerto, accompanied by an
orchestra OF one hundred, lead by Nucn.
doriT, and al the cnd Of the first move.
ment the audience expressed H. peni up
/, enthusiasm by wild oulburt Of ap.
plausc." Frund says the cNtraor.
binary pat 'oi llcimann's playing i tina,
lac doos not play like a boy. but like q
b man. You cannot say Of him, lie plays
wonderfully for boy II he wen
grown man his performance on
Tuesday night would instantly en-
title him 10 rank with all ia,
: greatest artists and musicians and lboy,
most Of them. lIis technique l. perfect. his
accuracy phenomenal. his taste exquisite
his memory marvellous, and his wrsl
power simply extraordinary" Following
the Beethoven concerto came some 'yaria
tom" hy Ramcau. in ~hch tho lad dis
r. played a facility that il was scar'tly pc.si
p blc Ia rcaliEe, AMI after that lac i'm
u pruyiacd on the Gfst ten bars 81 the
b Weber rolacco hv lisT,, and At th'
close mon ru-r ~ thriricci aud waved thcil
n hats, sud women their handkcrchcis. u
, was ,r,tcal audience Of 400 or 3OS
persons. such ~ could no, be- matched out
i, side u New York. aud IN enthusiasm wa
:. proportional 10 tie wiErd.likc achieve
4 ncnis 81 the little hoy III was, how
cyci, says Frcund, n hIsrharsody, lin tn
Chopin selections tho nocturnc In l. na
u and the WALTZ In l. minor that he inter
"a cstcj nc most. 10 play Chopin success
p fully requires rare combination II ran
ie gifts. Especially In hi, trca,mcn, u tn
C waltz tho 10y displayed musica
e. intelligence that could bo taken n
Ie model tor anias' The little fellow ais
PLAYED a bcrccnsc aud u waltz Of his own
aud in this too achieved a victory. III.
Hs,id likcns him 10 Liai when q boy anl
~ T,c Tu.es says he is a musical phcnonc
>, non. worthy the sensation he has created
q Tho T,iJuae declares the Impression b
., made was profound, and The World nay
=, his execution Is exceedingly clcyc
and brilliant, his technique wonder
iul aud his ear marvellous. m
ny SIN, moc coldly critical than an
he Of the New York papers, nay clio
NJ mann is worth hearing, not only rs a maj
sc vel, but NJ a musician, for In piano solo,
TO when one Is not made conscious Of III
ny lack Of power by the tender playing Of u,
lao orchestra, lac achieves degree Of bread,